Estate Sale at a Historical Detroit Mansion Reveals Wild Details About Property’s Sordid Past as an Illicit Brothel

The new owner of a historical mansion in Detroit has brought to light the property's rumored history as a secret brothel—having unearthed several intriguing artifacts linked to its illicit past that are now available for purchase in an estate sale.

Wendy Patton, a real estate investor who recently purchased the Michigan home, was stunned to discover the items, which were littered throughout the home, which was built in 1890.

"I've never seen anything quite like this," she told the Detroit Free Press.

Rumors about the sordid activities inside the 8,200-square-foot home have never been confirmed; however, the items that Patton found would certainly hint at a former house of ill repute.

Images posted by Aaron's Estate Sales, which is managing the four-day event, reveal a variety of items found inside the Woodbridge abode. They range from fine antiques and vintage designer clothing to handwritten love letters and lacy corsets.

Speaking to Realtor.com®, Aaron's Estate Sales founder Aaron Siepierski notes that there are thousands of pieces available to the public.

The sale, perhaps unsurprisingly, has already drawn major attention, luring in "about 300 people" within the first 30 minutes of opening on Thursday morning, he adds.

With hundreds of items priced between $5 and $5,000, the event is expected to bring in tens of thousands of dollars.

"There’s tramp art boxes, several 19th-century paintings, and Victorian Eastlake-style furnishings,” Siepierski explains. “We also found leather and some kink wear, a lot of things of that nature.”

Built in the late 19th century by a businessman in the pickling and canning industry, the Woodbridge mansion spans more than 8,000 square feet and features Victorian architecture, detailed millwork, and vaulted ceilings. At the time, it was one of the grandest dwellings in the neighborhood.

But by the 1990s, the property had taken on a very different life. Locals recall it being used as a brothel, something the current owner discovered only after buying the property four weeks ago.

When Patton acquired it, it was essentially a hoarder house filled with garbage and clutter, Siepierski explains.

“She’s taken over 18 dumpsters out of this house,” he says. “As she was cleaning it out, neighbors came up to her telling her stories about how it operated as a brothel in the 1990s.”

As she cleared the home, her discoveries confirmed the rumors.

“She found photos of women and parties in the home, appointment books, letters to different girls from men, all sorts of other items that showed it did operate like that,” Siepierski says.

One item not for sale: a log book listing dates, times, and the names of men and the women they were with—which probably has some good Detroit secrets in there.

Those interested in the high-quality items rather than the home’s scandalous past can rest assured that its contents extend far beyond its risqué history.

Turn-of-the-century antiques and collectibles fill the mansion, offering a glimpse into the life of a bygone era. Some standout pieces include tramp art carvings, 19th-century paintings, and Victorian-style furnishings.

The closets tell their own story, too, with vintage designer clothing included in the sale. There’s Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, and, of course, feather boas and ostrich feather fans, according to the sale description on Aaron’s Estate Sales website.

“This is more than just a sale,” Siepierski says. “We handle historic homes all over the Midwest, and we are specialized in handling specific collections of antiques and collectibles. Each item tells a story and reveals a bit of Detroit’s history.”

The sale runs until Oct. 12 at 4105 Commonwealth St., with the mansion open to visitors eager to peek inside a house with a colorful past, and maybe take home a piece of it.

As for the future of the home, Patton has already revealed plans to put it back on the market after an overhaul.